Pan flashing with sill wedge and window clip

ABSTRACT

The subject invention provides a system of accommodating flanged widows utilizing a novel pan flashing system in conjunction with a sill wedge, pre-formed corner flashing members and also the use of a novel clip for extending the length of the bottom window flange. The novel flange clip is preferably made from a heavy gauge galvanized material in a unique configuration, WillFlash® Flange Clips provide bottom support to the window unit, eliminating the need for shims that may also lead to damaged pan flashings in the sill area. Additionally, the Clips act as spacers to allow the pan flashing to drain, preventing bulk water form being trapped by the lower window flange. Moreover, each Clip is provided with weep holes to avoid trapping moisture/water in the interior of a u-bend formed by a pair of interconnected spaced vertical members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to Ser. No. 09/692,226, filed on Oct. 26, 2000 entitled, Multi-Component Flashing Systems, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,401 and Ser. No. 09/777,844, filed on Feb. 7, 2001, entitled, Pre-Folded Flashing This application is closely related to Ser. No. 09/692,226, filed on Oct. 26, 2000, Systems and Method, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,402, both by the same inventor as the subject application and also another earlier patent entitled Multi-Component Elastomeric Materials For A Building Flashing System issued to Williams et al, as U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,026 on May 4, 1999, pending application Ser. No. 10/200,259 filed on Jul. 23, 2002 entitled, Integrated System For Controlling Water Intrusion and Air Movement Through Exterior Wall Construction by Mark F. Williams and pending application Ser. No. 10/670,318 filed on Sep. 26, 2003 entitled MULTI-UNIT TERMINATION ACCESSORY FLASHING.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As has been pointed out in several of the above noted patent applications, air and moisture penetration in and around window, door and louver rough openings, is one of the construction industry's most serious problems. Damage caused by infiltration of air and moisture rough openings, and the problem of mold and fungi with their own special set of consequences, has been increasingly recognized over the past several years.

As a result of these problems, there is an effort by many to improve upon the products and installation techniques that are currently in use. Several of the above-noted related applications deal with the flashing of rough window openings using a special formulated silicone sealing adhesive in combination with a particular sheet flashing material that the silicone sealing adhesive readily bonded to form watertight joints in and around rough window openings and other openings such as rough door openings.

The Williams, '401 patent noted above deals primarily with a preformed termination accessory that can be used in any one of the four corners of a rough window opening. However, its use would most commonly be used at the lower bottom corners where the same accessory can be used in any of the lower or upper corners merely by rotating the accessory unit ninety degrees. The Williams '401 patent also discloses the use a clay coated flashing material that is used in conjunction with an elastomeric adhesive sealant that readily bonds with the clay coated flashing material.

The Williams '402 patent discloses a pre-folded flashing system and Williams et al, '026 discloses the use of both liquid and solid forms of flashing material. Pending Williams application Ser. No. 10/200,259 discloses an integrated system wherein a variety of exterior sheathing panels, i.e. foam boards, foil-faced board, cementitious based boards, are exteriorly treated with an elastomeric membrane-like material and the joints therebetween are taped with clay coated adhesive backed taped. Williams pending application Ser. No. 10/670,318 deals primarily with a multi-unit termination accessory flashing that is manufactured in molded units of four that are separable and individually used in rough opening corners similar to the termination accessory units of the Williams, '401 patent.

As can be seen from a review of the above noted patents and pending applications, solving the problems associated with air and moisture penetration continues to be a work in progress. The subject invention is an extension of the prior attempts to resolve this serious problem. In the present application there is disclosed the flashing of rough window openings with self-adhesive backed flashing material applied in the jamb, sill pan and apron areas with the use of corner accessory pieces (CAPs) in the lower left and right-hand corners of the rough window opening. A novel sill wedge member is utilized to support the sill pan and help it direct water from the sill pan towards the exterior. Pan flashings are a proven method of managing unwanted water at rough openings in the building enclosure. However, installing flanged windows in conjunction with pan flashing poses unique challenges related to integration of components. Certain challenges are solved by using WillFlash® Flange Clips. Specifically, the fasteners used to attach the flange below the window sill may not properly align to penetrate into the rough opening sill plate. This often happens because the window unit is positioned higher in the rough opening to provide additional space to accommodate the pan flashing or because the rough opening height is increased for the same reason. WillFlash® Flange Clips solve this problem by effectively extending the length of the window flange below the windowsill, thereby spanning the space intended for the pan flashing. When a Clip is slipped onto the bottom window flange, the pre-drilled holes better align the flange attachment with the sill plate of the overall rough opening. At the same time piercing or puncturing of the pan flashing by an errant fastener is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, the subject invention provides components which improve upon the attachment of flanged windows when sill pan flashing is used, specifically the use of a novel clip which serves multiple functions. By extending the length of the bottom window flange attachment below the window can be made without damaging the pan. The novel flange clip is made from a heavy gauge metallic or plastic material in a unique configuration, which also provides bottom support to the window unit. Accordingly, the clips can be effectively utilized in the sill areas of a rough window opening thus eliminating the need for shims that may also lead to damaged pan flashings. The clips can additionally be effectively utilized at the top or sides of a rough window opening, thus eliminating the need for adding block to an oversized rough opening. Additionally, the clips act as spacers to allow the pan flashing to drain, preventing bulk water form being trapped by the lower window flange. Moreover, each clip is provided with weep holes to avoid trapping moisture/water in the interior of the bend.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a flashing system that includes a pan flashing that is utilized to control the intrusion of water below a window in the sill area Another object of the invention is to provide a pan flashing that is made of self-adhesive flashing that can be cut to the window width.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pre-molded corner unit for the corners of a window rough opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sill wedge that provides outward slope to the pan flashing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flange clip for use with a flanged window to attach the lower window flange to the rough opening sill plate below the pan flashing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flange clip for use with a flanged window that eliminates the need for shims below the sill.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flange clip that includes weep openings to allow the draining of any water trapped therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flange clip that once installed on the lower flange of a flange window, the thickness of one side of the clip provide a space sufficient to allow water drainage from the window sill pan area.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter. The instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a flanged window installed in a rough opening with flange clips and peripheral flashing installed therearound.

FIG. 2 is detail view of the flange clips per se.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a flanged window with pan flashing in a rough opening without the installation of flange clips.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating a flanged window with the flange clip installed thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a flanged window 25 installed in a rough opening of a building structure. As illustrated the rough opening of the flanged window 25 has been flashed with flashing material at the head, side jambs and sill areas prior to insertion of flanged window 25. Although not visible in this view, the sill area of the window has been provided with a sill wedge in the sill area of the rough opening prior to installation of the sill pan flashing member 26, these items will be discussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 4. As shown, window 25 includes a peripheral flange 25F that extends outwardly from each side of window 25. The lower sill flange 25SF is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced window clips 30 that are slipped over the window sill flange 25SF and then secured by fasteners to the sill area therebelow by a pair of fasteners. It is to be noted that although only two window clips 30 are utilized in this installation, additional clips 30 may be used as necessary in the head and/or jamb areas.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown the window clip 30 per se. Window clip 30 is preferably stamped out of 0.040 inch thick galvanized steel, however, it can also be molded of suitable plastic material. As illustrated, window clip 30 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed flange portions 31 that engage the underside 25 US of window sill 25 S, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Flange portions 31 depend from the uppermost end of a pair of spaced vertical portions 32 that are interconnected at their lowermost end portions by a u-bend 30UB. The gap between the pair of spaced vertical portions 32 is approximately 1/16 of an inch. The length of the window clip is approximately 2½ inches and 2 inches in width with flange portions 31 extending outwardly approximately ⅜ inches from their respective spaced vertical portions 32. Located at spaced intervals across the u-bend portion 30UB are a plurality of weep holes 30WH that allow the drainage of any moisture or water trapped between spaced vertical members 32. Additionally, window clips 30 are provided with a pair of 3/16 inch diameter holes 30FH for receiving fasteners that secure window clips 30 to the window rough opening.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a flanged window 25 with a depending sill flange 25SF positioned in a window rough opening. As shown, the rough opening includes sill member 35SM with a sill wedge 34SW and a self-adhering pan flashing member 36PF positioned thereabove. The self-adhering pan flashing member 36PF is provided with a rearward up-turned lip portion 36UL that is adhered to the interior wallboard 39 with a forward apron portion 36AP extending downward and adhered to the exterior sheathing 38. As shown, flanged window 25 includes a depending sill flange 25SF that terminates a slight distance below the uppermost surface of rough opening sill member 35SM and any fastener 37 inserted slightly above the lowermost edge of sill flange 25SF might miss the rough opening sill member 35SM and possibly penetrate pan flashing 36PF and destroy its sealing integrity resulting in water penetration and leakage at the sill area

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown the same structure illustrated in FIG. 3, however, in FIG. 4, the novel window clip 30 has been installed over sill flange 25SF and flanges 31 engage the underside window sill 25S. As illustrated, fastener 37 can now be safely inserted into window clip 30 with the assurance that it will penetrate through exterior sheathing 38 and then into rough opening sill member 35SM and securely mount the window 25 thereto without any fear of damaging pan flashing 36PF allowing it to serve its purpose of directing any water or moisture away from the interior of the building structure.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than words of limitation and that changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the full scope or spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims, and not by the foregoing specification. 

1. A combination of flashing elements for reducing the penetration of water around a rough opening with a flanged window installed therein, said combination comprising: a rough window opening including a header, side jambs and a rough opening sill plate; a pan flashing installed across the width of the window opening above said sill plate with a sill wedge member therebeneath; said pan flashing comprising a self-adhesive backed flashing installed across the rough opening with vertical slits at the jamb studs folded into the rough opening over said sill wedge and terminating in a back dam; a flanged window inserted in said rough window opening wherein the fasteners used to attach the flange below the window sill may not properly align to penetrate into said rough opening sill plate; and flange clip means operably mounted on said lower window flange for effectively extending the length of the window flange below said window sill whereby fasteners can be effectively inserted into said window sill without fear of damaging said pan flashing.
 2. A combination of flashing components as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange clip means comprises two flange clips, each having a pair of spaced parallel vertical members interconnected by a u-bend at their lowermost ends and a right-angled flange portion at their uppermost ends thereof, said spaced parallel vertical members providing a pocket for receiving said lower window flange therebetween.
 3. A combination of flashing elements as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said flange clips further serves as a spacer for said lower window flange thus allowing said pan flashing to drain, preventing bulk water from being trapped by said window flange.
 4. A combination of flashing elements as defined In claim 3 wherein each of said flange clips includes pre-drilled holes that serve to receive fasteners for attachment to said sill plate of said rough opening.
 5. A combination of flashing elements as defined in claim 4 wherein the number of pre-drilled holes in each of said flange clips is two.
 6. A combination of flashing components as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said flange clips further includes a plurality of weep holes at its lowermost portion thereof.
 7. A flange clip for supporting a flanged window in a rough opening of a building structure, said flange clip comprising: a pair of spaced parallel vertical members interconnected by a u-bend at their lowermost end thereof; each of said spaced parallel vertical members having a right-angled flange portion at their uppermost ends thereof with said flange portions extending in opposite directions; said spaced parallel vertical members forming a pocket for snugly receiving a window flange therebetween and effectively extending the length of the window flange.
 8. A flange clip for supporting a flanged window as defined in claim 7 wherein said u-bend includes at least one weep hole to avoid trapping water in the interior of said u-bend.
 9. A flange clip for supporting a flanged window as defined in claim 8 wherein said spaced parallel vertical members includes aligned apertures in each of said parallel vertical members for receiving fasteners.
 10. A flange clip for supporting a flanged window as defined in claim 9 wherein said clip is made of galvanized steel.
 11. A flange clip for supporting a flanged window as defined in claim 9 wherein said clip is molded of plastic. 